Waikato FC v Waitakere United
Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia
Tomorrow 2pm
It will be another classic top v bottom clash in which the pundits look for an upset, but the odds will be firmly against Che Bunce and his Waikato FC team when they run out at home to play Neil Emblem's Waitakere United tomorrow.
Waikato bagged three points in their season-opening 4-2 win over Hawkes Bay United but nothing since and sit at the bottom of the New Zealand Football Championship table with just those three points.
Waitakere, yet to really hit their straps, have nevertheless accumulated points steadily to be 10 clear of Waikato and three ahead of arch rivals Auckland City at the top of the table. City does, however, have the advantage of two games in hand.
Emblen, who is still sidelined as he recovers from a knee problem, is calling for more from his players.
"We haven't scored more than two goals in any NZFC game this season. Frankly, that is not good enough given the players we have," said Emblen. "Allan Pearce, Brant Fisher, Roy Krishna and Benjamin Totori have all looked good and been clinical in their finishing in training.
"Now they have to get out in matches and show me the same. While I would obviously like to see more balls hitting the back of the net, I will be happy if they are making the opposing goalkeepers work but that has not been the case often enough this season. Good scoring chances are being wasted."
Waitakere are playing the second of three games in a row away from home. In their pre-Christmas outing they were held 2-2 by Hawkes Bay United and next week, at the start of the second round, they face the trip to Christchurch.
Emblen, who has yet to decide on his starting line-up, said he might be tempted to play Aaron Scott alongside Tim Myers in central defence and switch Jeremy Christie to right back, but he will wait and see whether Martin Bullock has recovered from a stomach upset before putting pen to paper.
He is not taking Waikato lightly.
"They have some decent players and deserve respect," said Emblen. "They beat us pre-season with both teams putting out pretty much the same players on what was a bumpy pitch. From what I have heard, the pitch at Centennial Park is not the greatest which could help them."
Bunce, a little under the weather yesterday, is determined to play even if he is not 100 per cent.
"We are looking forward to it. If games were only 80 minutes we would be unbeaten but it is those lapses in the latter stages which are costing us dearly," said Bunce.
Apart from the injured Sam Wilkinson, Mikael Munday and the departed Steven Holloway, Bunce has a full squad to select from.
"We just have to hope the rub of the green starts going our way," said Bunce yesterday. "It is not easy taking on a player-coach role in this situation but it is better to have a tough start like I have had than having it easy.
"We were behind the eight-ball in terms of selection at the start of the season and are probably down a bit on the quality needed at this level but that is no excuse.
"I face a different pressure than someone like Neil Emblen who is expected to win every week with the squad he has. I hate being at the bottom of the table and I hate losing. It is up to us to turn that around. Starting on Sunday."
In other weekend action, YoungHeart Manawatu play Otago United in Palmerston North at 1pm today while Auckland City are at home to Hawkes Bay tomorrow and Team Wellington travel to play Canterbury United. Both games at 2pm.
